Indigenous Panamanians Plan Anti-Gov’t Strike

Panama, (Prensa Latina) Panamanian indigenous authorities plan to hold a national strike and mass march in the capital on Aug. 9 to protest the government’s non-compliance with the Changuinola Agreement.

The decision was made during a forum to remember wath is known as the Changuinola Massacre, and representatives of the opposition Democratic Revolutionary Party’s Secretariat for Indigenous Affairs said all indigenous communities would take part in the strike.

The government of President Ricardo Martinelli promised to compensate indigenous communities in Changuinola for the police repression one year ago, when two people died, hundreds were injured, and many others arrested.

At that time, demonstrators were protesting a law that was harmful to indigenous communities.

The law was annulled, and the government promised to compensate the victims, but has only kept its promise partially and under pressure from the communities.